Bowling pin



July 31, 1928. 1,679,072

J. R. CARM ICHAEL 4-1 L I I ix SSSSSSS E-S Patented July 31. 1928.

JOHN R. CARMICHAEL, OF DORMONT, PENNSYLVANIA.

BOWLING PIN.

Application filed August 16, 1927. Serial No. 218,251.

This invention relates to bowling pins.

vide means for preventing breakage, 'and to reduce wear of the base ofwooden bowling pins, whereby the life of-sucli pins is greatlyincreased.

have the pins properly centered in their positions and to have them reston an even base. The former requirement is frequently secured now by theuse of pin setting machines, employing mechanically operated pegs whichare accurately centered in the proper places, and which when in anoperative position engage centrally drilled holes in the bottoms of thepins. After the pins have been thus set up, the 1pegs are mechanicallylowered below the a ey level, leaving the pins free.

Ordinary wooden bowling pins are subjected to very sudden and severeshocks, which may do damage to the pins, but even so, their useful lifewould be relatiyely long were it not for the wear and chipping away ofthe base. The damage done to this portion often may prevent accurateposltioning; but what is more important, it may cause the pin to beunbalanced, which is highly undesirable, and the pins may in consequencebe quite short-lived.

. The invention comprises the use of a nonchipping, wear-resisting, shoeadapted to be inserted in the base of a bowling pin or similar articleof the usual well known construction. Means are provided for securelyretaining this insert in the pin and for preventing any type of relatlvemovement between the two. Furthermore the insert may be adapted to beused with the ordinary mechanical pin setting rlevices now commonlyemployed.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig, 1 represents a vertical longitudinalsection through an ordinary wooden bowling pin showing the improved shoedevice held in place by a screw; Fig. 2 an elevat on of the shoe device;and Fig. 3 a plan view of Fig. 2.

According to the invention the insert comprises a circular base or shoeportion 1, and a generally cylindrical shank portion 2, forming anintegral structure with the base. The shank is provided exteriorly witha plushank and In-the various bowling games, such asi' regulationten-pins, or that employing the rality of longitudinal angular fiutings3, The objects .of the invention are toproand rising from the base andsurroundi the shank are a n2 plurality of pointed lugs 4,

and from each of these there extends a triangular rib 4 running thelength of the adapted to en a e rooves formed at proper places in the bre 8% in the pm. These ribs secure accurate positioning of the lugs 4 inthe recesses provided for them. As shown herein the lugs are three innumber but any suitable and desired number may be used. The member 2 isprovided w th a central axial bore 5, adapted to receive the shank of ascrew 6. It is also counter-bored from the base end to permitcounter-sinking of the head of the screw and to receive th pegs of anordinary mechanical pin setting device in the larger bore 5, when it ISdesired to set the pins in that manner.

In using this shoe member it is driven into a prepared pin in suchmanner that the ribs 3 and the lugs 4 engage the pin and so that theexterior face of the shoe is flush with the normal base ofthe pin. Inorder to do this, an ordinary wooden bowling pin 7 is provided with acentral axial bore 8, rising from the base, the portion ad'acent thebase being counter-bored to snugly receive the base portion of the shoemember just descrlbed. The bore 8 is equal in length to the length ofshank 2, and it is made equal in diameter to the diameter across theroots of the ribs 3. When the member has been forced fully into a pinthe screw 6 isturned into place. The lugs and ribs or fiutings preventany relative rotary movement between the two parts inasmuch as theyinterlock with the wood, and the screw acts to retain the member in thepin. If desired the shoe member may be surrounded with glue when it isforced into position in the pin, in order to add to the retainingeffect.

The shoe member is preferably made from some material such as fibre,bakelite, or aluminum, which is both light enough to cause no materialchange in the center of gravity of the pin, and which combinesnonchipping, non-splitting, and wear-resisting qualities.

The invention provies a means for substantially increasing the usefullife of bowling pins in an inexpensive manner, since the shoe memberadequately decreases damage to the most vital portion of the pin, aswell as maintaining the pin-setting opening in good condition. I claim:

1. The combination with a bowling pin, of a shoe member disposed in thebase there' of, comprising a circular shoe portion, a shank inte raltherewitlnand provided with a central ongitudinal bore adapted toreceive a retaining screw, said member positively resisting relativerotar movement between itself and the pin, an( adapted to preventbreakage and reduce wear of the ass of said in.

2. The com inati-on with a bowling in, of a shoe member dis oscd in thebaset ereof, comprising a eircu ar shoe portion, a shank integraltherewith, a plurality of longitudinal flutings provided exteriorly onsaid shank and,a plurality of la disposed on said shoe surrounding saids ank, and rovided with a central longitudinal ore adapted to receive aretaining screw, said member positively resisting relative rotarymovement between itself and the pin, and ada ted to prevent breakage andreduce wear of t e base of said in.

3. The combination with a bowlin pin, provided with a centrallongitudina bore 0- ening from the base, the portion adjacent t e basebeing counter-bored to form an opening of larger diameter than that ofthe bore, of a shoe member disposed therein comprising a circular shoeportion snu ly fitting the counter-bored opening and ash with the baseof the pin, a generally cylindrical shank rising therefrom and adaptedto make a driven fit in said central bore, a longitudinal central boreprovided in said member and adapted to receive a retaining screw, saidmember being adapted to revent breakage and reduce wear of the ass ofsaid in.

4. he combination with a bowling pin provided with a centrallongitudinal bore opening from the base, the portion adjacent the basebeing counter-bored to form an opening of larger diameter than that ofthe bore; of a shoe member disposed therein and comprising a circularshoe portion snugly fitting the counter-bored opening and flush with thebase of the pin, a generally cylindrical shank rising integrallytherefrom and ada ted to be driven into said central bore, a p uralityof pin-engagin lugs rovided on said shoe surrounding S11l( shan aplurality of longitudinal ribs provided exteriorly on said shank, saidlugs and ribs engaging the pin to prevent rotation of. the shoe memberwhen in position, and

said member and adapted to receive a retaining screw and the pegs of apin-setting device, said memberbeing adapted to revent breakage andreduce wear of the of said pin.

5. A shoe for wooden bowling ins complirising a circular base, a genera1y cylinrical shank rising therefrom, in-engaging lugs provided on saidbase an flutings on sald shank to prevent rotation of the member when inposition in a )in, and a lon itudinal counter-bored o cmn centrallydisposed in the member a aptmf to receive and retain a pin-engagingscrew.

6. A wear-resisting shoe member for wooden bowling pins comprising acircular base having an integral shank rising therefrom, a plurality ofin-engaging lugs rising from said base aral e1 to said shank, a luralityof longitudinal flutings exteriorly ormed on said shank and adapted toengage the pin, said lugs and flutings being adapted to prevent lateralmovement of the member when in a pin, and a longitudinal counterboredscrew-retaining opening centrally provided in said member and adapted toreceive the keys of a pin-setting machine.

7. A shoe for wooden bowling ins comprising a circular base, a genera lycylindrical shank rising therefrom, in-engaging lugs provided on saidbase an flutings on said shank to prevent rotation of the member when inposition in a pin, and a longitudinal counter-bored opening centrallydisposed in the member adapted to receive and retain a pin-engagingscrew and to engage the keys or pegs of a pin-setting machine, saidmemher being formed of wear-resisting and nonehipping material andadapted to decrease wear and prevent bottom breakage of a bowling pin.

8. 'A shoe for wooden bowling ins comprising a circular base, a generaly cylindrical shank rising therefrom, in-engaging lu s provided on saidbase and flutings on said shank to prevent rotation of the member whenin position in a pin, and a lon itudinal counter-bored o enin centrallydisposed in the member a apte to receive and retain a pin-engaging screwand to engage the keys of a pin-setting machine, said member beingformed of aluminum and adapted to decrease wear and prevent breakage ofa bowlin pin.

In testimon whereof, I sign m name.

OHN R. CARMI HAEL.

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